Both PSG and Chelsea managed to hold off comebacks from Bayern Munich and Porto respectively to secure their places in the Champions League semi-finals. The remaining two teams will be found out tomorrow evening.
PSG 0:1 Barcelona (3:2 Agg)
Despite a first-half goal from Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting Bayern Munich were unable to push on and perform a successful Champions League comeback against PSG. The Cameroonian striker fumbled the ball on the stroke of half-time and looked to give Bayern hope. However, this goal came against the run of play.
In the second-half Bayern started to really emerge as the aggressors, but PSG managed to stay strong. It ultimately amounted to a game of if’s but’s and maybe’s at the end of the day. For PSG they found themselves with multiple opportunities to put the tie beyond reach and failed to do so.
Bayern however will be left feeling that with a less injury filled squad they could have found themselves in a semi-final. With over eight main squad players including Lewandowski, Gnabry and Goretzka. Their depth was limited and they still took The Parisians to their limit.
Nothing summed up Bayern’s injury troubles quite like with the clock running down they had to turn to defensive midfielder Javi Martinez as their final substitution.
It was a commendable end for the defending Champions League champions. They fought till the very end, even in the face of a severely depleted squad.
Chelsea 0:1 Porto (2:1 Agg)
In a game that was starved of highlights, it was one moment of brilliance that would give Porto the win if only on the night.
With the game coming to its conclusion Porto striker Mehdi Taremi produced a spectacular bicycle-kick. A goal fitting to win any game, it was arguably the best finish the Champions League has seen this season.
The rest of the game however was largely formulaic. Chelsea’s two away goals from the first-leg was always going to be a tall order for Porto to overturn. With just three shots on target throughout the whole game, neither side looked like dragging the tie to anything more than a foregone conclusion.
Having said that, when considering Chelsea’s performances as a whole, credit has to be placed with manager Thomas Tuchel. Since the German manager arrived, the Blues have had just two defeats, this one against Porto and a freak score against West Brom in the league.
In his four Champions League games at Chelsea, they have conceded just one goal Taremi’s wonder-goal. With the semi-finals now secure, Chelsea are firmly in the running for the trophy now.
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(Fran Santiago/Getty Images) (Alexander Scheuber – UEFA via Getty Images)
